Chapter 77: Chapter 76: Sooner or Later You’ll Meet Them, So Why Run?
"Uncle..."
Yin Shixiu pursed his lips.
Then he casually called out, "Dad, Mom..."
The two white-haired elderly in their seventies in front of him were Yin Shixiu’s parents, the current head and lady of the Yin Family.
Su Xiaomeng was stunned for a moment after hearing Yin Shixiu.
Her immediate response was to step back towards the door!
Oh my...
Uncle’s... mom and dad?!
Just as she took a step back, her arm was grabbed, and in an instant, she was pulled back to where she was.
"You’ll have to meet them sooner or later, why run?"
Sooner or later she has to meet them...
Su Xiaomeng blinked, not quite understanding the meaning of these words, and was already pulled into the room.
At this point, if she thought of backing up again... it would seem awkward.
So this little one had no choice but to brace her nerves and follow closely beside Yin Shixiu. She forced a grin and called out to the two white-haired but healthy-looking elders, "Hello, Grandpa and Grandma."
Standing next to her, Yin Shixiu instantly froze.
He looked at Su Xiaomeng in a daze...
What did she call them?
Su Xiaomeng couldn’t feel the weird gaze from Yin Shixiu, and even when he gave a couple of awkward coughs, she still remained clueless.
She just giggled at the elders.
In her mind, she thought, Grandpa and Grandma look really spirited!
Grandpa was dressed in a neatly pressed Zhongshan suit, had a serious face, but looked very learned!
Grandma had fair skin, wore light makeup, and was in a white sweater with exquisite embroidery of peonies on the neckline.
It was her first time seeing someone this age who could still come across as so elegant.
Zhou Mengqin nodded slightly when she heard Su Xiaomeng greet them politely, "Hello, young lady."
Wow, Grandma’s voice is so gentle!
Su Xiaomeng, with her big, bright eyes, looked at the elder couple.
No wonder Uncle is good-looking; it’s all due to good genes!
Seeing that Su Xiaomeng completely missed his eye signals and looked starstruck instead, Yin Shixiu sighed inwardly with despair.
"Why are you here? It’s so cold outside."
"You don’t come home, your mom misses you, what else could we do but come over ourselves?"
Yin Shaohui joined the military at sixteen, followed the newly established China, fought from the Korean War to the counterstrike at the China-Vietnam border; his life was full of military achievements.
Because of this, even at his age, his bones were still strong, and his voice was hearty and powerful.
However, when Grandpa spoke, it made Su Xiaomeng’s heart tighten...
This feeling, why does it remind me so much of the stern instructor from last year’s military training?
Thinking of that stern instructor, Su Xiaomeng recalled a traumatic experience and felt a chill down her spine.
Could Grandpa also be a military man?
"Have you had dinner yet?"
Yin Shixiu asked.
Zhou Mengqin just came to see their son and didn’t care about dinner, but Yin Shaohui wasn’t pleased, snorting through his nose,
"We got here at five and it’s seven now, do you think we’ve had dinner?"
Zhou Mengqin quickly pulled her husband’s arm, "The young girl is here, what are you doing?"
Yin Shaohui took a deep breath, glanced at Yin Shixiu, still not pleased,
"Aren’t you going to introduce her?"
Yin Shixiu stood formally in front of the elders with Su Xiaomeng and said, "This is my girlfriend, Su Xiaomeng."
The elders were old hands who had seen it all.
Even though their hearts were secretly churning, they showed no sign of it on their faces.
Zhou Mengqin even smiled at Su Xiaomeng, "Shixiu’s girlfriend? Quite cute."
Su Xiaomeng’s face turned red when she heard Yin Shixiu introduce her like that, startled, and then thought about it, realizing that might be the only way to introduce herself...
Yin Shaohui glanced at Su Xiaomeng, said nothing, but gave Yin Shixiu a slightly complicated look.
Yin Shixiu, however, ignored this look.
"Su Xiaomeng? Which ’Meng?’"
Su Xiaomeng, still blushing, whispered, "It’s the ’Meng’ that means cute."
Yin Shixiu rubbed his forehead; her shy manner as she spoke was just like the first night he met her.
For a moment, it made his heart itch and a little restless.
He said, "I’ll go order some take-out, the chef at the hotel next door is pretty good."
"Have you two eaten out?" Zhou Mengqin quickly asked, "If you have, don’t trouble yourselves."
Before Yin Shixiu could speak, Su Xiaomeng quickly shook her head, "No, we haven’t! We planned to come back and eat!"
After speaking, Su Xiaomeng quickly retracted her head, feeling guilty... does that sound fake?
Zhou Mengqin was taken aback by Su Xiaomeng’s sudden response, stunned for a moment, "Oh, oh... then let Shixiu order, we’ll eat together."
Yin Shixiu’s face showed no expression, but there was a clear hint of amusement in his eyes.
She often says things and makes instinctive actions that make people feel affectionate towards her.
The trace of amusement in his eyes fell within Yin Shaohui’s sight, those eyes still bright and keen despite years of experience.
"Uncle, be sure to order the mouth-watering chicken and the sour soup beef!"
Su Xiaomeng suddenly thought and quickly reminded, then explained to Zhou Mengqin, "The mouth-watering chicken and sour soup beef from that place are incredibly delicious!"
Zhou Mengqin smiled slightly, "Okay, have Shixiu order them."
"And there’s durian pastry!"
"...Why don’t you order it?"
"You order, you order."
Su Xiaomeng’s ears turned red as she spoke with embarrassment.
Yin Shixiu returned to the room and changed his clothes while he was at it.
The large living room was left with only Su Xiaomeng facing the two elders of the Yin Family.
Perhaps it was because Zhou Mengqin was too gentle, even though Yin Shaohui exuded an unapproachable aura, Su Xiaomeng was not as nervous as when she first entered.
"How old are you this year?"
Zhou Mengqin asked gently, even though her hair was grey and she was over seventy, her speech was still clear.
Su Xiaomeng sat beside her and could smell the elegant perfume on Old Madam Yin.
Aside from the fine gold ring on her wrinkled ring finger, the old lady wore no other jewelry.
Yet even so, it was hard to hide the noble air beneath her simplicity, elegant and dignified.
"I..." Su Xiaomeng was going to truthfully say she was nineteen, but changed to, "I’m twenty, Grandma."
After all, it was only a few days’ difference, not really lying, right?
"Grandma? You’re still calling me Grandma?"
Zhou Mengqin chuckled lightly, "Since you’re Shixiu’s girlfriend, how can you call me Grandma?"
"..." Su Xiaomeng blinked, then realized! Her ears turned a deep red with embarrassment in an instant.
"You’re only twenty, your parents know you’re with Shixiu?"
Yin Shaohui, who hadn’t spoken, suddenly spoke up.
Seeing Su Xiaomeng nod, he said no more and continued watching the news broadcast.
"Where are Xiao Meng’s parents from, what do they do?"
Zhou Mengqin continued her questions.
"Um... both my mom and dad are from Chengdu! My mom is a high school teacher! Many kids from our town were taught by my mom!"
Zhou Mengqin looked at Su Xiaomeng’s proud face, still smiling kindly, "What about your dad?"
"My dad is a small flower shop owner! He knows a lot about various flowers!"
"Really? That’s impressive."
Su Xiaomeng nodded, "Grand—Aunt, Auntie."
Zhou Mengqin smiled, "At our age, we are quite old; if you want to call me Grandma, that’s fine."
"Auntie, you don’t look old at all!"
"Haha."
"Actually, my dad not only knows about flowers, but he’s also skilled in many other things!"
"Oh?"
"When he was young, he worked as a locksmith, and also as a carpenter. All the furniture at home was made by him! My dad sings really well, he even won awards in singing competitions before!"
Su Xiaomeng counted on her fingers all the impressive things about her father.
Zhou Mengqin listened to her, found it amusing, and occasionally responded.
Even though Yin Shaohui appeared to be watching the news, he heard everything Su Xiaomeng said and everything Zhou Mengqin asked clearly.
But after listening, he wasn’t in a very good mood.
In his view, she was just an ordinary girl.
Yin Shixiu had already finished ordering the food.
After changing his clothes, he didn’t immediately come over; he leaned against the bedroom door frame, listening to Su Xiaomeng speak proudly about her parents.
Having a mom who is a teacher and a dad who owns a small flower shop...
Even among ordinary people, this was an ordinary family background.
But she was very proud, very proud.
Which is perfectly fine, in the hearts of children, their parents are always the best.
It’s just... to the ears of the Yin Family elders, it’s unlikely to cause any impression.
"So... what about you? Where are you studying now? What are your plans for the future?"
Zhou Mengqin asked.
"Me? I’m studying at A University, in my second year."
Upon hearing this, Yin Shaohui paid a little more attention, a small, small bit of expectation rising in his heart.
And then Su Xiaomeng, full of yearning, said, "I like to dance, maybe I can become a dance teacher in the future. I’m not professional, but I can teach kids, or maybe I’ll inherit my dad’s little flower shop..."
Yin Shixiu closed his eyes briefly, sighing inwardly.
He just knew she’d say something like that.
Yin Shaohui moved his lips, but ultimately said nothing, while Zhou Mengqin could visibly feel her husband’s face turn dark, a heavy shadow falling on his profile.
"Students from A University should have a promising development path, no?"
"I—"
"Xiao Meng, there’s some fruit in the kitchen, go bring some out for your parents."
"...Okay."
Su Xiaomeng responded, a bit puzzled why he specifically asked her to do that, but she got up to get it anyway.
Once she was in the kitchen, Yin Shixiu spoke calmly, "She’s still young, doesn’t understand, asking her these things now is pointless."
If he didn’t step in and interrupt, who knows what kind of impression she’d leave — of being unambitious and without goals.
His bride, not even through the door, might be disliked by her in-laws for life.
The sad part is, the girl isn’t even aware.
"Have you been with this young girl the whole time?"
Yin Shaohui squinted his eyes, his tone suddenly becoming much stricter.
"I have work, she has school, we’re both busy."